Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kohima Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kohima

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $387 in Kohima, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $617 in Kohima, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $847 in Kohima, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 120% more than Kohima, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kohima are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Kohima 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$1.37 ₹131

43.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$9.68 ₹919

94.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$3.97 ₹377

99.50%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.68 ₹160

13.69%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.36 ₹34.27

133.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.12 ₹11.21

191.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.37 ₹130

61.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.20 ₹304

18.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.74 ₹70.0

121.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.46 ₹43.85

252.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$0.57 ₹54.2

107.02%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$0.89 ₹84.2

125.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$3.05 ₹290

420.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$3.21 ₹305

-6.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.87 ₹177

39.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$0.73 ₹69.3

67.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$0.96 ₹91.3

77.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.79 ₹75.3

100.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.29 ₹27.32

355.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.39 ₹36.87

200.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.40 ₹37.62

67.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.30 ₹28.57

86.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$2.35 ₹223

92.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$7.25 ₹689

151.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.55 ₹147

18.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.81 ₹267

14.95%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$3.58 ₹340

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.30 ₹28.78

196.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$8.69 ₹825

123.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.80 ₹75.7

68.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.24 ₹22.64

462.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$1.46 ₹139

465.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.17 ₹111

8.55%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$13.7K ₹1.3M

54.45%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$18.0K ₹1.7M

24.88%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$70.2 ฿2,294

$39.70 ₹3,769

76.70%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.77 ฿450

$3.36 ₹319

309.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$5.42 ₹515

224.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$15.84 ₹1,504

162.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$6.97 ₹662

-5.31%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$2.86 ₹272

102.10%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$306 ฿10.0K

$32.77 ₹3,111

834.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$1,976 ₹187.6K

650.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$25.21 ₹2,394

115.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$35.10 ₹3,332

-25.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$45.78 ₹4,346

84.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$43.37 ₹4,118

60.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$126 ₹11.9K

237.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$76.2 ₹7,237

212.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$271 ₹25.7K

204.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$183 ₹17.4K

180.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,035 ₹98.3K

97.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$518 ₹49.1K

194.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$211 ₹20.0K

201.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.38

-32.25%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Kohima: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $126 in Kohima. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 202% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $10.00 in Kohima. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $99.0 – making Kohima the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chiang Mai vs Kohima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 120% more than Kohima, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $580 in Kohima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kohima, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $32.77 in Kohima. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 145% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $387 in Kohima, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kohima costs $387 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Kohima. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.